Burna Boy proudly represented Nigeria on football’s biggest stage as he joined Colombian superstar Shakira and Uganda’s famous Ghetto Kids for a memorable halftime performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina.
The Grammy-winning singer received loud cheers from fans as behind-the-scenes clips captured his entrance before the much-anticipated show. While Burna Boy kept his look understated with a simple outfit, his commanding presence and unmistakable charisma ensured he remained one of the standout performers of the evening.
The halftime show transformed the stadium into a vibrant celebration of music and culture. Bright yellow and pink costumes, energetic choreography, and dazzling stage production created a colourful spectacle, with the Ghetto Kids and dozens of backup dancers keeping the crowd entertained from start to finish.
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The performance reunited Burna Boy and Shakira after the pair introduced Dai Dai, the official anthem of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, during the tournament’s opening ceremony in June. In the days leading up to the final, both stars had also built anticipation by sharing photos and videos from rehearsals, giving fans a glimpse of their preparations for the global event.
Rehearsal clips also featured the celebrated Ugandan dance troupe, Ghetto Kids, who played a major role in the halftime show. Shakira later revealed that her decision to include the young dancers was inspired by a viral video showing them performing with homemade instruments despite growing up in challenging conditions.
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She said:
“A lot of people asked me why I chose children from the slums to dance with me at the World Cup. Two weeks ago, someone uploaded a video online showing these kids dancing with no professional outfits or props, using wooden boards and strings as guitars, caps and wires as microphones, yet they were partying like they were at Coachella,”
The entertainment did not end there. The star-studded halftime show also featured separate performances from Canadian pop sensation Justin Bieber, American music icon Madonna and South Korean supergroup BTS, turning the World Cup final into a global celebration of football, music and culture.
With Burna Boy once again flying Nigeria’s flag on one of the world’s biggest stages, the Afrobeats star added another landmark performance to his growing list of international achievements, further highlighting the genre’s ever-expanding global influence.
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